Pe es eee j : a 2nd Issue, July B.C. LUMBER WORKER 9 Impressions of LABOUR IN JAPAN By I.W.A. ROVING REPORTER In conversations with IWA Associate Research Direc- tor Joe Miyazawa, upon his recent return from Japan, it became obvious that he had gained an unusual and highly penetrating insight into Japanese labor conditions. Cana- dian birth and trade union training, coupled with a work- ing knowledge of the Japanese language, and customs have provided him with rare qualifications to appraise the Japanese workers’ problems from a Canadian point of view. Although Joe was assigned to duty on the Interior negotiations on the day of his arrival in Ca- nada, he agreed during one of the lulls between bargaining confer- ences with the employers, to sub- mit to an interview on behalf of this IWA official publication, He accepted the suggestion that he should answer questions on phases most likely to prove of interest to Canadian workers. So, it happens that the follow- ing questions and answers centre on matters selected for that rea- son out of the wealth of informa- tion in possession of the inter- viewee. The conversation went like this: Q. What was your mission on this recent visit to Japan? A. I was loaned by the IWA to undertake a survey of the condi- tions in metal trade unions in Japan on behalf of the Interna- tional Metal Workers Federation. This Federation now represents more than 744 million workers in 22 countries, embracing the iron, steel, auto, electrical equipment, shipbuilding and machinery tools industries. No satisfactory con- tact had been made with the Japa- nese unions in the metal working industries. My task was to pr mote the closer fraternal rela- tions desired by the Federation. I was also authorized to propose that the Japanese metal working unions should enter into affiliation with the free labor movement. On the international level, it had been agreed that closer work- ing relationship would prove ad- vantageous to both parties. The general wish of the international free trade union movement has been for the inclusion of the Ja- panese unions in all projects de- signed to raise the living stand- ards of workers internationally. Q. What was the reception | accorded your mission? A. A friendly welcome was ex- tended to me personally every- where, especially when it was realized that I have been asso- ciated in an official capacity with the Canadian trade union move- ment, However, when I endeay- ored to secure approval of the ry pocrn net enen - ° say you are an excellent : host... U-B: ss f a =o _ FOR FREE DELIVERY VANCOUVER advertisement is not published or displayed by the sea, cr by te Government of Brita Columbia. PHONE * TA 1121 + YO 2636 * WEST 2115 BREWERIES LIMITED JOE MIYAZAWA proposed terms of affiliation with the international Federation, I encountered formidable difficul- ties, which had not been foreseen. These difficulties stemmed from the present complexities of the Japanese labor movement. Q. What are those features which offer obstacles to inter- national affiliation? ‘A. The obstacles to my mission stemmed for the most part from the nature of the divisions in the Japanese trade union movement. There are two major national groups, as well as a separate miscellany of independent or non- affiliated unions. SOHOYO, or the General Coun- cil of Trade Unions in Japan, claims a membership in excess of 2,800,000. This group of trade unions may well be described as “Jeftist” in the direction of its policies and tactics. ZENRO, or the Japan Trade Union Congress, is the result of a breakaway from SOHOYO in 1954. The main issue in dispute at that time was the failure of SOHOYO to affiliate with the IC- FTU, as desired by the dissidents. Generally speaking, ZENRO may be characterized as stable, and somewhat “rightist” in its out- look on national policies. Quite apart from these two main groups will be found the in- dependents who subscribe to the policies of neither of the two leading bodies. I found that in- tense rivalry exists between these workers’ organizations, with the inevitable result that it was ex- tremely difficult to get co-ordin- ated action in the direction of the Federation proposals. Q. What were your impres- sions of the general economic conditions in Japan as they af- fected the affairs of the trade unions? A. I found that economic con- ditions generally had recovered and substantially improved since the recession which followed the close of the Korean War. This improvement, however, has not eased the tension caused by the No. 1 economic problem in Ja- pan—over-population. In 1955, the population figures totalled 89,300,000. Within the extremely limited boundaries of the Japanese islands, the result- ing density of population is well nigh unbelievable. An interesting sidelight on this situation is the section contained in the official statistical report of the Japanese Government indi- cating that the number of legal abortions in. 1954 was 1,143,000. The birth rate in the same year was 1,765,000. I was advised that the rate of infant mortality com- pares favorably with the average on the American continent. I found that the Japanese worker is facing serious unem- ployment. As might be expectéd, this adversely affects the bar- gaining position of the unions. Labor Immobile Another handicap to trade union progress in this respect is the serious lack of mobility on the part of the working force. This is mainly caused by a com- plex system of wage payment. Wages in Japan, for workers rated as permanent, are automa- tically increased in direct ratio to the length of service. When wages are calculated on this basis, the unusual situation may result that a worker em- ployed by a firm as janitor, might receive higher pay than a top ex- ecutive with a M.A, degree in engineering science, but with a shorter term of service. The mobility of labor is also affected by the hiring system in vogue. Industrial firms are re- luctant to hire workers formerly employed by other industrial firms. They prefer to train and retain workers accepted into their employment upon gradua- tion from the schools. No Lay-Offs Still another feature, is that the trade unions are unalterably opposed to any reduction of the working force employed by any firm, with the result that lay-offs are practically unknown. The ex- isting army of unemployed con- sists mainly of those who have not yet secured work, or whose employers have been forced into bankruptcy by depressed econ- omic conditions. It will be readily understood in Canadian trade unions, that the lack of mobility, such as I have described, weak- ens the bargaining efforts of the unions. I found that while the large plants in the major industries, are, on the whole, well union- ized, the small plants in the same “oO regularly in the ‘Read DAN ILLINGWORTH’S N THE - LABOR s., .SCENE” Vancouver Province 100% UNION - PRODUCED by Vancouver men and women industries have escaped organiz- ation. This has caused wage dif- ferentials in the same trade rang- ing from 50 percent to 75 per- cent, and even as high as 100 per- cent. Q. How do living standards in Japan compare with those on this side of the Pacific? A. In comparison with living standards found in adjacent Asian countries, the standards enjoyed by Japanese workers are the best. In comparison with those in America, they are, of course quite low. A factor in this situation is that production methods in the country have not yet been fully modernized, Side by side with large modern plants, employing the most. modern and efficient production methods, will be found the small shops and cottage in- dustries employing antiquated methods. On this outer fringe of industry, the workers are not or- ganized, and the wages paid are extremely low. This situation tends to lower the purchasing power of the population. Onother factor often overlook- ed, is that Japan has little raw material for manufacture. Jap- anese industry must export to secure the raw material for re- manufacture, Guild Divides On Issue VANCOUVER (CPA) — As one group of newspaper work- ers in British Columbia signed the first American Newspaper Guild contract west of Toronto, another group here rejected a proposal that they become part of the ANG. The 285-member directly-char- tered union of employees of the Vancouver Daily Province voted 4 to 3 to reject a proposal that they become part of the Ameri- can Newspaper Guild. Jurisd tion over newspaper workers has been awarded to the ANG and all unions at present directly-char- tered by the Canadian Labor Con- gress have been asked, where possible, to affiliate with the na- tional or international union coy- ering their jurisdiction, Two other groups of organized news- paper workers in Vancouver have yet to decide on the affiliation question. British Columbian Meanwhile, the former dir- ectly-chartered group employed by the New Westminster British Columbian (now Local 220, ANG), signed a first contract covering 35 employees in all non-mechani- eal departments, The two-year agrement provides for pay in- creases up to $10.75 a week—top minimum for reporters is now $94.50, the union shop, a maxi- mum of 13 weeks sick leave with pay, premium pay for holidays and overtime and other benefits, TREEN No. 24L1 Reversible Rivetted ‘Lumber King’ MITTS HEAVY SMOOTH PLIABLE LEATHER Treen Glove Co. Ltd. 224 WEST BROADWAY VANCOUVER 10,